This remarkable collection of stories from early childhood settings illustrates what is possible when using an emergent curriculum approach. The stories tackle unusual topics, such as assessing the need for program rules, addressing the impact of a hurricane on classroom design, observing the empathy of toddlers, exploring children's ideas about sculpture, and appreciating a long-term, multiage project in an after-school program. Overall, what readers witness is a rise in the quality of practice that results when responding to emerging topics.

Responses to each chapter, written by educators whose interests and experiences relate to the topics addressed, add to the content and impact of these stories on the depth of learning that takes place when teachers and children engage in emergent curriculum. These experts include Elizabeth Jones, Margie Carter, Deb Curtis, Marian Marion, Laurie Kocher, Veronica Pacini-Ketchabaw, Mary Benson McMullen, Carol Copple, Susan Fraser, Travis Wright, Carolyn Pope Edwards, and Lella Gandini.

These extraordinary stories will inspire early childhood educators to imagine new possibilities in curriculum and learning.